Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for the top 12 easy hikes in Joshua Tree National Park. There are many things to do in Southern California during Winter, and this itinerary makes for a great weekend road trip. All of these Joshua Tree trails are family friendly and easily accessed without 4 wheel drive. Highlights are Skull Rock, Arch Rock, Hidden Valley, and Cholla Cactus Garden.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for a winter stay at the Ahwahnee Hotel Library Suite in Yosemite National Park during Christmas time. With views of Half Dome, Yosemite Falls, and Glacier Point, this historic hotel is a great place to stay in Yosemite Valley. Visit the Dining Hall, Grand Lounge and Mural Room, and book guest rooms where Queen Elizabeth, JFK, and Barak Obama stayed.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting Harmony Borax Works located in Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park. There are so many popular things to do in Death Valley, and this historic spot is a great quick stop near Zabriskie Point and Badwater Basin. The easy trail is family friendly and provides up close views of a 20 mule team wagon and old building ruins.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for hiking the Mist Trail to the Vernal Fall Footbridge in the snow. There are many things to do in Yosemite during Winter, and taking this trail near Curry Village is a favorite. Along the way we'll see iconic Yosemite highlights such as Yosemite Falls, Glacier Point, and the roaring rapids of the Merced River.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Tall Trees Grove Trail in Redwood National and State Parks. This moderate to strenuous redwoods hike requires a permit obtained in advanced by the National Park Service and Redwood Park Conservancy. Along this trail you'll see the tallest redwood tree in the park and the 3rd tallest tree in the world, and you can walk through a tunnel log.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to viewing the Yosemite Valley Firefall during the Fall season. More commonly enjoyed during Winter in February, the Firefall natural phenomenon happens when the sunset light hits Horsetail Fall on the side of El Capitan, creating a flame affect on the waterfall. On rare occasions, this event can be seen during Autumn in late October or early November.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking the Big Trees Trail along Generals Highway in the Giant Forest. This easy hike is one of my favorite things to do in Sequoia National Park, and it's close to the Giant Forest Museum, General Sherman Tree, Congress Trail, and Moro Rock. This loop trail is family friendly and great for all ages, providing close up views of giant sequoia trees.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie Yellowstone travel guide to visiting Firehole Lake Drive. This loop features several geothermal highlights, including White Dome Geyser, Hot Lake, Black Warrior Lake, Steady Geyser, and Great Fountain Geyser. If you're looking for things to do in Yellowstone National Park without the crowds, this is short drive from Old Faithful and Grand Prismatic and less crowded.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to visiting 3 National Parks in 1 day! This one day itinerary is a great California road trip idea, taking us from Yosemite Valley to Kings Canyon, and then ending in Sequoia National Park. We'll explore spots like Lower Yosemite Falls, Big Stump Trail, Grant Grove, General Sherman, Moro Rock, Hanging Rock, Tunnel Log, and Tunnel Rock.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide on the Hermit Road viewpoints in Grand Canyon National Park. Learn about the free shuttles and all the stops they make for panoramic views, including Powell Memorial, Pima Point, Hopi Point, The Abyss, Trailview Overlook, Mohave, Point, Maricopa Point, and Hermits Rest. Enjoy photography of the Colorado River and clifftop views of the canyon below.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide to hiking a section of the Pohono Trail and Old Wawona / Stagecoach Road to the Artist Point overlook in Yosemite National Park. Learn about trail info, such as distance / elevation gain, as well as how this viewpoint is a great alternative to Tunnel View since it is less crowded, and the hike can be combined with a similar view at Inspiration Point.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide about hiking to the General Sherman Tree located in Sequoia National Park in the California Sierra Nevada Mountains. Learn interesting facts about the General Sherman Tree, trail distance, and nearby trails, such as the Congress Trail, the Alta Trail, and the Circle Meadow Loop. Enjoy photography of the giant sequoia trees from overlooks and viewpoints.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide about hiking the Devastated Area Interpretive Trail in Lassen Volcanic National Park in northern California. Learn about the trail distance and the interpretive panels, such as the one with Loomis and his "Hot Rock" photograph. See pictures of Lassen Peak, large volcanic rocks, and the forest that is recovering from the Lassen Peak volcano eruption.
Read MoreRead this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for the Shoshone Point Trail hike along the south rim Desert View Drive in Grand Canyon National Park in northern Arizona. See photography and learn information about the hiking trail distance, parking lot location, trailhead, picnic area, rock formations, and cliff top viewpoints. See wildlife, such as big horn sheep, elk, deer, and rattlesnakes.
Read MoreToday we're exploring the unique geological features of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park. We'll take you on an adventure along Upper Terrace Drive, as well as along the Lower Terrace boardwalk, where we'll discover a bull elk and his gang of cow elks.
Read MoreToday I'm in Yosemite National Park with my dog exploring all the pet friendly spots in the park. Read this full travel guide to enjoying the best dog friendly activities, hiking trails, viewpoints, and hotels. Lower Yosemite Falls Trail, Cooks & Sentinel Meadows, Half Dome views from Glacier Point, and the hike to Mirror Lake are just a few of the dog friendly locations we're exploring today.
Read MoreToday we're hiking along the South Rim Trail in Grand Canyon National Park. The section we're exploring is between two popular overlooks, Mather Point and Yavapai Point.
Read MoreToday we're in Yosemite National Park enjoying Olmsted Point along Tioga Road. We'll check out views of Half Dome, Clouds Rest, and Tenaya Lake from multiple overlooks, including a bonus hike.
Read MoreToday we're in Sequoia National Park along Generals Highway exploring Hospital Rock, an ancient Native American site with pictographs from centuries ago. We'll also check out bedrock mortars and take the short hike down to the Kaweah River.
Read MoreToday we're hiking around Tenaya Lake, the largest lake in Yosemite National Park. This high altitude lake off Tioga Road offers stunning reflections of the surrounding granite peaks, and is open to swimming, kayaking, and picnicking.
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